Laundry press



June 25, 1940. s. MARVIN 2,205,597

LAUNDRY rnsss Filed Feb. 20, 195'! 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. STANLEY MARVIN ATTORNEY.

S. MARVIN LAUNDRY PRESS June 25, 1

Filed Feb. 20, 19:57

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

STANLEY MARVIN ATTORNEY.

Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES 7 2,205,597 LAUNDRY PRESS Stanley Marvin, San Francisco, Calif., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to B. E. Witkin, Oakland, Calif.

Application February 20, 1937, Serial No. 126,858

'7 Claims.

This invention relates to laundry presses as used for pressing or pressure ironing of shirts and other garments as wellas to the similar presses used by tailors in the pressing of pants and coats. The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved leverage system adapted for presses of this kind, and such a system which will be particularly adapted to manually or rather pedally operated presses in providing great power 19 with comparatively little effort Also such a system which embraces toggle levers which are almost straightened at the point of greatest pressure and automatically locked when the application of force is removed. Another feature'of the 1g invention is the operative hook-up of two or more such presses with provision for releasing either or both from either machine. Another feature is a pressure leverage system which avoids the counterweights and their objectionable in ertia in a manually operated press. Still another feature is a quick releasing press leverage system which is free from shock.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a manually operated laundry press with portion of the near side of the pedestal frame broken away to reveal the operating levers.

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of one of the spring releasing cylinders.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the automatic pressure lock and releasing apparatus.

5 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the electric releasing circuits for a cooperating pair of the laundry presses.

In further detail Figure 1 shows at I a heavy base or pedestal frame, preferably a hollow casting in which most of the operating levers are housed, and upon which a work table 2 and the lower press buck or ironing member 3 are mounted.

The upper buck 4 is shown down in pressing position upon the lower buckand is carried at the outer end of a massive lever arm 5 which is horizontally pivoted at 6 between upwardly extending portions 1 of the pedestal frame I in a manner so that it will swing on pivot 6 from the full line position to the dotted line position 5 to elevate the upper buck for removing or positioning the garments for pressing. A handle 8 is extended forwardly from the arm 5 for rapid pulling down of the arm andupper buck most of u the way before applying the operators weight to the foot treadle 9 for the final application of pressure.

The arm 5 is preferably bifurcated at its forward portion for lateral stiffness and single at. and to the rear or right of pivot 6, and forked I. and pivqtally connected at its rear end at II] to the upper end of a link II, in turn pivoted at its lower end at 12 to and between the upper long ends of one of two bell cranks I3, both of which are pivoted at M on a large pin passing through the sides of the pedestal frame, and the other ends of the bell cranks l3 are each pivoted at l5 to one of two links l6, each pivoted at its upper end at IT to the lower bifurcated end I8 of a bell crank l8, in turn pivoted at l9 to the sides of the pedestal, and the other or short end of which bell crank is forked and connected by a pin 20 pivotally embraced by the upper end of an adjustable link if, the lower end of which link is pivoted at 39 to an upwardly extending portion go 22 of the foot treadle lever 23 which is also of bell-crank form..

The foot treadle lever 23 also pivots loosely on pin l4 and is provided with a smaller upwardly extending arm 24 to which a special hydraulic 25 locking device 25 is pivoted at 26, and which device has a piston rod 21 projecting from its upper end pivoted at 26 to and between the forked ends of bell crank I8. I

The final element in the leverage system is an enclosed return spring assembly 29 of which there are preferably two, each adjacent opposite inner sides of the pedestal frame, each pivoted to the frame at its lower end at the axis 30,- and provided at its upper end with a spring pulled plunger rod 3| pivoted at 32 to the presser arm v 5 at a point sufficiently to the rear of pivot 6 to swing that end of the arm downward and open the press when the leverage system is released 0 from pressure, to the dotted position shown in Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows the inner construction ofone of the return spring devices and which comprises a relatively long piece of pipe 29 with a tightly 5 fitting plug 33 secured to its lower end, and with. the inner end of the plug counterbored as at 34 to easily fit a plunger 35 carried at the lower end of rod 3| which latter is slidably supported in a sleeve 36 screwed to the upper end of the pipe; as well as further supported by an enlarged portion 31 of the plunger which fits loosely within the pipe. A long coiled compression spring 38 surrounds the rod and the combined force of both springs when compressed is. just sufficient to .5

easily and quickly return the leverage system to release position and open the press.

In use the counterbore 34. forms an oil dash pot and is kept filled with oil to receive tapered plunger 35 and eliminate shock or jar at the end of the return stroke.

When the foot treadle 9 is pushed down to the full line position all of the levers described are also in the full line position with the three sets of toggle levers formed respectively by the memquite brought to a straight line with their pivots, so that their normal tendency would be to release the pressure, were the force removed from the treadle. To automatically hold the press under pressure after removal of the foot from the treadles is one of the purposes of the device shown in detail in Figure'3."

Device 25 comprises a closed casing provided with a lug at its lower end apertured at 26' to receive the pivot pin 26. The casing forms a reservoir for a liquid, preferably oil 40, and is partitioned oiT at 5| to form an inner lower chamber 42 into which projects the lower open end of a cylinder 43 having no other communication with the interior of the casing 25, and contains a nicely fitting plunger or piston M secured to a piston rod 27 which is formed with an eye 28 at its outer end to receive the pivot pin 23. The

piston rod 21 extends slidably through a long hub 45 projecting into the cylinder from its head 46, while a coiled compression spring 47 around the hub normally tends to force the piston downward. A stuffing box is preferably provided at 48 to prevent possible oil leakage, though with a proper ring or cup leather sealed piston it would not be necessary.

Partition 4| is fitted with a valve cage 39 housing a downwardly opening poppet type valve 50 to permit oil to flow past the partition either way when the valve is open. The valve is arranged to be opened upon the energizing of an electric solenoid 5| mounted on top of the casing 25 and the core of which solenoid is secured to a vertically movable shaft 52 pivoted at 53 to a lever 54 pivoted at 55 to the casing and yoked at 56 to embrace a pin 51 projecting from the upper end of the valve stem 58. The weight of the solenoid core (not shown) normally holds the valve 5!] closed, unless the solenoid is energized to lift rod 52 and open the valve, or unless opened slightly by suction upon upward movement of piston 44.

In operation, during the downward movement of treadle 9 in closing the press, valve 56 is held wide open by the energizing of its solenoid through treadle brush contacts iii-62 so that the oil can freely enter cylinder 43 as the piston 44 moves upwardly. When the treadle is fully depressed and the press is closed under pressure, as indicated by the full line drawing of Figure 1, piston or plunger 44 is drawn up to the position shown in Figure 3, with the space below the plunger filled with oil and the valve is closed, by the opening of the circuit by the treadle contact 6| passing off of segment contact 52. This efiectively stops the plunger against return movement as the device 25 then forms a rigid bar between one arm of bell crank 8 and the extension 24 of the foot lever 23, and thereby locks the pressure lever system against any return or releasing movement whatever until valve 50 is opened to. permit the oil from under plunger 44 to be forced back into the reservoir by the combined action of both releasing springs 38 as sisted somewhat by spring 47.

The solenoid or electric control for opening valve 55 is provided for two important reasons, one to permit the operator to withdraw his foot from the treadle 9 the moment he has forced it down, yet retain the press under full pressure, and the other is to provide for operating of two or more presses by one operator, so that as he loads one he presses a button on or adjacent the .loaded press to automatically release the other press which had previously been loaded, and by the time he steps over to the second press it is fully open for him to take out the pressed garment. This effects a great saving in time of the operator and increases the capacity of the presses.

Besides the control of one press from the other, it is frequently necessary, if only one press is being used, or for some garments which will not stand long pressing, to release the press quickly without going over to the other press. This requirement is provided for by the wiring or the presses as shown in the wiring diagram of Figure 4.

In Figure 4 the tables of two adjacent presses A and B are indicated by the numerals 2 and 2, and their operating foot levers 23 and 23 and other associated parts similarly, and their respective solenoids 5| and 5|. Each table, or other part of each press handy to the operator, is provided with two electric push buttons indicated at 59, 65 for one press, and 59'60' for the other press, while each foot lever is provided with a brush contact 6|, 6| which makes contact with a segment strip contact member 62' secured to the press pedestal, the arrangement being such that when the pedal and foot lever is fully depressed the brush contact is broken as indicated in Figure l, but upon upward movement of the foot lever the contact is closed for the remainder of its travel.

With the supply current entering at 63, 64, it will be seen by following the diagram that neither solenoid is energized and hence both presses must be locked closed. Now, assuming the operator to be standing at and having just filled or loaded the press A, he presses its button 65 to thereby complete a circuit through wires 65, 66 to solenoid 5| and thereby opens valve 50 of press B, and press B immediately starts to open so that by the time he steps over to it, it is fully open for him to remove the garment and replace it with another. Then before leaving press B (or in fact before he has closed it) he presses button 59 to close the circuit through wires 61, 68 and solenoid 5| of press A so that the press will be open when he steps over to it. In the meantime, the foot lever 23 having risen, closed the circuit to solenoid 5| through brush contacts 6|, 62' and wires 69, 10, H so that it holds valve 56' of press B open for free movement of the locking plunger of that press until its foot lever is depressed to again break the brush contacts.

The same operation applies to both presses as will be seen by inspecting the diagram, either button 66 or 59' being pressed to energize the solenoid of the other press, and held just a moment until its brush contact is established.

In order for'the operator to release the press he is working on he presses its button 59 or as the case may be. By considering the leverage system of the press it will be seen that it comprises a quadrangular arrangement of two pairs of toggle levers and bell cranks |6--|8, 2|--22,

, 29 aided by the compression spring 41 in the automatic oil locking device. This arrangement avoids the use of counterweights and permits the press to be easily pulled most of the way down by handle 8 and during which movement the treadle hardly moves from its clotted position of Figure 1, and the force of the operators foot upon it thereafter closes the press the remaining short distance, and the press locks automatically by the solenoid circuit being broken so that it requires no holding down.

It is understood that in laundry presses the bucks may take any form depending on the nature of the Work being performed, also that they are generally heated by suitable means, but as such features are Well known and not concerned with the present invention, they are not shown in the drawings.

The use of the words manually operated in the appended claims is to include foot operated or vice Versa, and attention is directed to the fact that lever 23 may be suitably extended for entire operation by hand if desired.

Having thus described my improved laundry press construction and the mode of its operation, what I claim is:

1. In a laundry pressincluding a frame and having a lower buckand a cooperating upper pressing buck carried on the forward end of a presser arm pivotally supported on the frame for. applying and lifting the buck from the work, and with the rear end of the presser arm extending beyond the pivot, a bell-crank shaped foot lever pivoted at an intermediate point on a fixed axis to said frame and with a foot pedal at one end, a pressure applying lever system connecting the opposite end of said foot lever to the rear end of said presser arm. comprising a pair of bell crank levers each pivoted at an intermediate point on a fixed axis to said frame, a link pivoted at opposite ends respectively to one end of each bell crank, and a pair of links each pivoted at one end to the opposite end of one of said bell cranks and said links pivoted at their opposite ends respectively to the rear end of said presser arm and the opposite end of said foot lever, the fixed pivots being so spaced as to bring the two pivots of each of the three links substantially in line with the fixed pivot of a bell crank to which it is connected when the foot lever is in pressure applying position.

2. In a laundry press having a frame, a lower buck on said frame, and an upper buck carried on the forward end of a presser arm pivotally supported to the frame of the press for lifting from the Work, and with the rear end of. the

presser arm extending beyond the pivot, a pressure applying leversystem comprising a plurality of bell crank levers each having a long and a short arm and each bell crank pivoted at the juncture of its arms to a fixed axis on said frame, a plurality of links each pivotally connected at one end with the long arm of one bell crank and at the other end with the short arm of another bell crank to form a connected series of toggles in substantially quadrangular confronting arrangement and with one end link pivoted to the rear end of the presser arm, and with the opposite end link of the series pivotally connected to a pressure applying lever, the pivotal relation of the links and bell cranks being such as to provide a connected series of pairs of toggle levers arranged to be swung substantially with their pivots in line when the press is closed, and to swing outward from their quadrangular arrangement when the pressure is released and the press open.

3. In a laundry press having a frame and a lower buck, and a cooperating upper pressing buck and an arm pivoted to the frame upon which the upper buck is mounted for swinging to and from the lower buck, a treadle operated pressure applying lever system connected at one end to said arm and a foot treadle operatively connected to the opposite end of said lever system, hydraulic means to lock said lever system with the buck under pressure, comprising a piston slidably operating in a liquid containing cylinder and pivotally connected to said lever system, means anchoring said cylinder to said frame, a valve for blocking exit of liquid from said cylinder, means associated with and operated by movement of said treadle automatically closing said valve at full pressure applying position of said treadle only and locking the treadle in pressure applying position, and holding said valve open at all other positions of said treadle.

4. The construction as set out in claim 3, and

. manually controlled means for opening said valve for freeing said liquid and thereby releasing said treadle from locked pressure applying position.

5. A pair of associated presses as set out in claim 3, and remote control means adjacent each press arranged and adapted for opening the valve of the other press.

6. A pair of associated presses as set out in claim 3, and. remote control means adjacent each press arranged and adapted for opening the valve of the other press when desired or permitting both presses to remain locked.

'7. A pair of associated presses asset out in claim 3, and two remote control means adjacent each press arranged and adapted for respectively opening the valve of either press.

STANLEY MARVIN. 

